Chain-making machine.



W. N. APPLETON. CHAIN MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 26. 19]].

1,291,712. Patented Jan. 21,1919.

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CHAIN MAKING MACHINE.

.APPLICATION man MAR. 26. 1911.

W. N. APPLETON.

CHAIN MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 26. 1917.

1,291,712. Patented Jan. 21,1919.

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MaZQCW W. N. APPLETON.

CHAIN MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 26. m7.

Patented Jan. 21,1919.

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' Avg/ TTED STATES PATENT- OFFICE.

WALLACE N. APPLETON, 0F KENT, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE NATIONAL CHAIN COMPANY, OF MARIETTA, 01-110, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

CHAIN -MAKING -MACHIN E.

I Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. Jan. '21,: 1919.

Application filed March 26, 1917. Serial No. 157,474.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be itknown that I, WALLACE N. APPLE- TON, citizen of the United States, residing at Kent, in the county of Portage and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Chain-Making Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to chain making machines, and more particularly to that class of machines which hooks an open link blank into the previously formed link and then closes the joint in the link by a welding operation. The invention is an improvement upon the machine described and claimed in the Patents Nos. 919,487 and 919,488, granted April 27, 1909, to Philander H. Standish.

The object of the invention is to generally improve the chain machine of said patent by a new arrangement of parts for transferring the links from the furnace to the link carrying jaws; by an improved arrangement of the hooks for carrying the links through the furnace which enables said hooks to be readily replaced or adjusted and to automatically aline with the link removing fingers; by preventing the deposit of cinder or scale in the forging dies which is commonly formed by the link closing operation and might deform or injure the dies or the link; and by siniplification and improvement in the operating mechanism, as will more fully hereinafter appear.

The invention comprises the chain making machine hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view, showing the transfer device in the working position with the blank before the hammer and die; Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation, on a larger scale, on the line 2-2, Fig. 1, but also showing the blank transfer arm in position ready to receive a blank from the furnace; Figs. 3 and t are detail views, illustrating the transfer of a blank to the gripping tongs; Fig. 5 is a detail sectional elevation on the line =5-5, Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a detail section, illustrating the mechanism for advancing the blank to the hammer and die; Fig. 7 is a front elevation, showing the side closing dies; Fig. 8 is a plan view thereof; Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail plan view illustrating the mechanism for actuating the blank transfer arm; Fig. 10 is a detail section on the line 10 -10, Fig. 1,and Fig/l1 is a detail section on the line 11-11, Fig. 10.

In many of its features the machine shown in the drawings is similar to the machine of the Standish patents, before referred to, to which reference may be had for a more complete description'ofsuch features as need not here be described in detail. The machine comprises a suitable furnace 1 having an arcuate slot 2 in its roof through which extend the link supporting hooks 3 spaced at regular intervals around the pe'ripheryof the work carrier l which is given a step by step movement by suitable mechanism indicated generally at 5 and operated by the main shaft 6.

As shown in Figs. 10 and 11, each hook 3 has a shank 7 adjustable vertically in a clamping member 8 on the outer end of a rod 9 which passes through openings in the walls of the channel shaped rim 10 of the carrier and also through a holder 11 lying therein, in which it is secured by a set screw 12. The bottom of the holder is spaced from the bottom of the channel which per: mits the rod 9 and the holder to turn a limited amount in the channel about the axis of rod 9, giving the hook members a slight oscillating movement for a purpose which will hereafter appear.

When the links emerge from the furnace chamber they reach the transfer station marked A, Fig. 1. Here the floor of the furnace is formed of a hollow metal box or container 13 provided with pipe connections 14 so that cooling water may be circulated therethrough. The oxid, cinder and other droppings from the links and hooks, which ordinarily deposit at this point, may be readily scraped oif from the metal chill box without injury to the floor as would be the case if the floor at this point were made solid of the usual refractory material.

At the transfer station the link is removed from the hook and deposited between the gripping jaws 15 which carry the link to the operating dies and manipulate it therein. The link hangs on the hook in the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 2. At the proper time the gripping jaws turn to the position shown in said view and a slide 16 moves forward toward the link. This slide is of the same form and operates in the same way as the slide of the Standish Patent, No. 919,487, referred to. It slides in a forward guide 17 and a rear guide 18, the forward guide having an automatic t1lting movement to elevate the front part of the slide when said slide is moving forward or toward the hook 3 and to depress it when moving away from said hook. For this purpose the front guide 17 is supported by a shaft 19 having an arm 20 connected by a link 21 to an arm 22 on a shaft 23 havmg an operating arm 24 in the path of movement of a cam 25 on the main shaft 6. The

guide 17 is rocked in one direction by cam 25 and in the opposite direction by a spiral tension spring 26.

The spring fingers 27 at the front of the slide move over the link and drop in behind it. If the link supporting hook is slightly out of alinement with said fingers the advancing movement of said fingers Wlll shift the hook to the right or left, due to its loose mounting before described, so that the two fingers pass one on either side of the hook.

This prevents injury to the fingers which might occur if the hooks were rigid.

In advance of the gripping jaws 15 1s a movable link guiding table 28 supportedon the end of a slide 29 whose forward portion rests on a screw 30 vertically adjustable ina stationary bracket 31 and serving to support the table at the desired level. The rear end of said slide is connected by a link 32 to an arm 33 turning with a shaft 34 havlng a short arm 35 held by a spring 36 against a cam 37 on the main cam shaft. Said arm is also connected by a link to operate the finger slide 16, but as the links for the two slides are connected to said arm at different distances from shaft 34 the finger slide has a greater range of movement than the table slide. At the front end of the table 28 is a link blank turning device, shown as a plate 39 hinged at 40 and normally held in the position shown in Fig. 2 by a light spring 41. "When the fingers 27 have fully advanced and are behind the blank, as in Fig. 3, this turning plate presses against the front of the link blank or the hook on which it hangs. ()n the receding movement of the slides the blank is pulled ofi from the hook and is immediately pressed against the plate which turns down fiat upon the table, as in Fig. 4. This movement prevents any possibility of the link dropping down upon the floor of the transfer station, but the blank engaging portion of the fingers 27 pass into the central opening of the link and positively move it rearwardly without the necessity of forming said fingers into hook shape. The link is pulled by the fingers overrthe pressure plate to the table 28, and is dragged back along the table to position between the gripping jaws 15, which are carried by-a shaft 42 journaled in a frame 43 which swings around a vertical axis in a second frame 44 mounted to swing on a horizontal axis in the frame by the supporting trunnions 45. The link gripping jaws are closed to seize the blank by the advance movement of a sliding bell 46 actuated by a lever 47 carried by a shaft 48 having an arm 49 held by a spring 50 in the path of movement of a cam 51 on the main cam shaft. When the grippingjaws are closed in the manner de scribed they remain closed and firmly hold the link until it is worked into the chain and released from said jaws as hereinafter described.

The blank held between the gripping jaws is now transferred to position in front of the hammer and die. To effect this result the frame 43 is turned through an angle of 90 in the frame 44 in which it is mounted. Said frame 43 is provided with a quadrant 52 to which are connected two cables, marked 53 and 54, eXtending in opposite directions horizontally. The cable 53 is connected to one arm of a bell crank lever 55 Whose other arm has a roller traveling on the periphery of a cam 56. The other cable 54 passes over an idle pulley 57 and is con nected to a spring 58 fastened to the frame. The quadrant 52 and the frame 43 to which it is connected are therefore turned in one direction by the cam 56 and in the opposite direction by the spring 58. The flexible form of cables 53 and 554 permits slight oscillation of the frame 44 about its horizontal trunnion 45 when the link blank is in the working position, as hereafter described, without interfering with the operation of the blank transfer mechanism, and provides positive movement of the parts without the evil effects of lost motion.

As soon as the blank reaches a position in front of the hammer and die, it is advanced to position between the side closing dies. This movement is effected by advancing the shaft 42 in the frame 43 in which it is journaled, the advancing mechanism comprising a lever 59 swinging on the shaft 60 on which the pulley 57 is turned, and connected by a link 61 to a lever 62 having an arm 63 held by a spring 64 against the periphery of a cam 65 on the main cam shaft. When the high part of the cam engages the lever 63 the yielding head 66 pivotally connected to the upper arm of lever 59 engages the rear end of shaft 42 and advances the link to position between the side closing dies.

In the machine of the prior patents referred to the side closing dies were located about the forming die in which the link blank is worked, as a result of which the operation of closing the link deposited oxid and scale from the link in the forming die cavity, and not only increased the wear of the die but also unavoidably produced impressions and blemishes in the finished surface of the link. The side closing dies of the present machine are so arranged as to do away with the objections to the prior machines. These dies are in the form of slides 67, working in guides 68 attached to the main frame. The dies 67 are rectangular bars located in front of the die block 69, and having portions extending below the upper surface of said block, as shown in Fig. 7. The cam 65, which advances the link toward the die block, has a low portion 70, a higher lobe 71, which partially advances the blank to position between the side closing dies, and a still higher lobe 72 which still further advances the link into final position between the hammer and die. When the first lobe 71 is traveling past the lever 63 the blank is held momentarily between the side closing dies'which come in and press the open ends of the link toward each other, it, of course, being understood that during the advance movement of the open link blank toward the side closing dies said blank has been threaded or looped through the last formed link of the already finished chain, as described more fully in the Standish Patent, No. 919,498, before referred to. The side closing die slides are operated by links 7 3 connected to levers 74 mounted on shafts 75 and provided with arms 76 held by springs 77 in contact with two similar cams 7 8 on the main cam shaft. When the closed link is advanced to final working position in the die block by the high lobe 72 of cam the hammer 79 is brought down to perform the first welding blow. Said hammer may be. operated in any suitable manner, either by a spring or by gravity, and is shown as operated by gravity. It is carried by an arm 80 pivoted at 81 in the frame, said arm being elevated by straightening or partially straightening two toggle links 82, one of which is connected to a shaft 83 having an arm 84 actuated by a cam 85 on the main cam shaft. Said cam is provided with a number of quick drops or depressions,each of which allows the hammer to drop with full gravity effect upon the link held in the guide. Between successive blows of the hammer the link is preferably elevated and turned, so as to work the link from both sides. Usually about four blows are sufficient to produce a good weld, and experience has shown that the best results are obtained by producing an initial blow upon one side of the link, turning said link and producing two blows upon its opposite side, then turning the link back to its initial position and finishing with a fourth blow upon the side first operated upon. The mechanism for manipulating the link blank may be of any suitable form and as illustrated is constructed as follows:

The link blank is lifted for the turning operation by tilting the frame 44 on the horizontal trunnions 45. Said tilting movement is produced by a cam 86 cooperating with one arm of a lever 87 connected by a link 88 to an arm 89 depending from the frame 44. Lever 87 is held against the cam by a spring 90, and whenever a depression in the cam travels past the lever arm the frame 44 swings about its trunnion in the proper direction to elevate the gripping jaws 15 and link carried thereby. In the elevated position of the link blank said blank is turned over by rotating the shaft 42 through an angle of 180 in its bearings. For this purpose said shaft is provided with a beveled gear 91 meshing with a cooperating bevel gear 92 on a vertical shaft 93. Gear 92 may be operated by a cable mechanism similar to that used for turning the frame 43, but is shown provided with an outwardly extending arm 94 connected by a link 95 to a lever 96 held by a spring 97 against a cam 98. WVhen the link is turned over by cam 98 a lobe of the cam 86 depresses said link into position in the die block for a further hammer blow.

When the welding operation is completed the gripping jaws are retracted slightly from the die block and the newly formed link is gripped by a pair of temporary holding jaws ready to receive the next link to be added to the chain. The mechanism for manipulating and holding the already formed portion of the chain forms no part of this invention and need not be here described. It is suflicient to say that after the link is seized by the temporary holding jaws the jaws 15 re opened to release the newly formed link preparatory to moving to the transfer station A to receive another blank. Said jaws 15 are opened by a cam to turn a shaft 102 and force an arm 103 on said shaft against the collar of the jaw actuating bell 46.

The machine described is found to operate more successfully, with greater certainty and with the production of fewer imperfect chain links than prior machines of this kind. Thevarions features described are of simpler form than in the prior machines and enable chains to be made of practically any size link and at an increased speed, thereby decreasing the cost and enabling the product to command a better price in trade.

Having described my invention, I claim 1. In a chain making machine, a furnace, means for feeding blanks through said furnace, said furnace having a transfer station whose floor is provided with water cooling means therein, and blank holding and carrying means arranged to receive a blank at said station.

2. In a chain making machine, a furnace, a blank carrier having a series of blank carrying hooks for conveying blanks through said furnace, said furnace having a transfer station provided with water cooling means in its floor, and means arranged to engage a blank on one of said hooks at said station and remove it from said hook.

3. In a chain making machine, a furnace, means for feeding blanks through said furnace, said furnace havinga transfer station, blank holding and carrying means arranged to receive a blank at said station, a hollow metal chill box in the furnace floor at said station, and means for circulating water through said box.

4:. In a chain making machine, a furnace, a blank carrier having a series of depending hooks for conveying blanksthrough said furnace, said furnace having a transfer station, a hollow metal chill box in the furnace floor at said station, means for circulating water through said box, and means for engaging a blank on one of said hooks at said station for removing it therefrom.

5. In a chain making machine, a blank supporting member, blank gripping jaws, and means for transferring a blank from said member to said jaws, said means comprising a table reciprocating between said member and jaws, and means for depositing the blank on said. table for carrying it to the jaws.

6. In a chain making machine, a blank supporting member, blank gripping jaws, and means for transferring a blank from said member to said jaws, said means comprising a table reciprocating between said member and jaws, and movable fingers above said table arranged to engage a blank on said member and transfer the same to said table.

7. In a chain making machine, a blank supporting member, blank gripping jaws, and means for transferring a blank from said member to said jaws, said means comprising a table reciprocating between said member and jaws, and movable fingers above said table arranged to engage a blank on said member and transfer the same to said table and from said table to said jaws.

8. In a chain making machine, a blank supporting member, blank gripping jaws, and means for transferring a blank from said member to said jaws, said means comprising a table reciprocating between said member and jaws, and movable fingers above said table arranged to engage a blank on said member and transfer thesame to said table, said fingers moving in unison with said table but having a greater range of movement.

9. In a chain making machine, a blank supporting member, blank gripping jaws,

and means for transferring a blank from said member to said jaws, said means comprising a table reciprocating between said member and jaws, and movable fingers above said table arranged to engage a blank on said member and transfer the same to said member and transfer the same to said 7 table, and common means for actuating said table and fingers. 7

11. In a chain making machine, a blank supporting member, blank gripping jaws, and means for transferring a blank from said member to said jaws, said means comprising a table reciprocating between said member and jaws, movable fingers above said table arranged to engage a blank on said member and transfer the same to said table and from said table to said jaws, and common means for actuating said table and fingers.

12. In a chain making machine, a blank supporting member, blank jaws, and means for transferring a blank from said member to said jaws, said means comprisin a table reciprocating between said member and jaws, movable fingers above said table ar ranged to engage a blank" on said member and transfer the same to said table, said fingers moving in unison with said table but having a greater range of movement, and'common means for actuating said table and fingers.

13. In a chain making machine, a blank supporting member, blank gripping jaws, and means for transferring a blank from said member to said jaws, said means com prising a table reciprocating between said member and jaws, movable fingers above said table arranged to engage a blank on said member and transfer the same to said table and from said table to said jaws, said fingers moving in unison with said table but having a greater range of movement.

14:. In a chain making machine, a blank supporting member, blank gripping jaws, and means for transferring a blank from said member to said jaws, said means comprising a table reciprocating between said member and jaws, movable fingers above said table arranged to engage a blank on said member and transfer the same to said table, and a blank turning member movably connected to said table.

15. In a chain making machine, a blank said member andtransfer the same to said member and jaws, movable fingers above said table arranged to engage a blank on said member and transfer the same to said table, said fingers, moving in unison with said table but having a greater range of movement, and a blank turning member movably connected to said table.

17. In a chain making machine, a blank supporting member, blank gripping jaws, and means fortransferring a blank from said member to said jaws, said means comprising a table reciprocating between said member and jaws, movable fingers above said table arranged to engage a blank on said member and transfer the same to said table and from said'table to said jaws,-said fingers moving in unison with said table but having a greater range of movement, and a blank turning member movably connected to said table.

18. In a chain making-machine, a blank supporting member, blank gripping jaws, and means for transferring a blank from said member to said jaws, said means comprising-a table reciprocating between said member and jaws, movable fingers above said table arranged to engage a blank on said member and transfer the same to said table, and a blank turning plate pivotally mounted at the advance end of said table, said plate lying in front of the blank when thetable is advanced thereto and arranged to turn into the plane of said table as the blank passes across said plate.

19. In a chain making machine, a blank supportinn member, blank gripping jaws, and means for transferring a blank from said member to said jaws, said means comprising a table reciprocating between said member and jaws, movable fingers above said table arranged to engage a blank on said member and transfer the same to said table and from said table to said jaws, and a blank turning plate pivotally mounted at the advance end of said table, said plate lvin in front of the blank when the table is a vanced thereto and arranged to turn into the plane of said table as the blank passes across said plate.

20. In a chain making machine, a blank supporting member, blank gripping jaws, and means for transferring a blank from said member to said jaws, said means comprising a table reciprocating between said m mber and iaws, movable fingers above said table arranged to engage a blank on said member and transfer the same to said table, said fingers moving in unison with said table but havin a greater range of movement, and a blan r turning plate pivotally mounted at the advance end of said table, said plate lying in front of the blank when the table is advanced thereto and arranged to turn into the plane of said table as the blank passes acrossv said plate.

21. I11 a chain making machine, a blank supporting member, blank gripping jaws, and means for transferring a blank from said member to said jaws, said means comprising a table reciprocating between said member and jaws, movable fingers above said table arranged to engage a blank on said member and transfer the same to said table and from said table to said jaws, said fingers moving in unison with said table but having a greater range ofmovement, and a blank turning plate pivotally mounted at the advance end of said table, said plate lying in front of the blank when the table is advanced thereto and arranged to turn into the plane of said table asthe blank passes across said plate.

22. In a chain making machine, a blank supporting member, blank gripping jaws, and means for transferring a blank from said member to said jaws, said means comprising a table reciprocating between said member and jaws, movable fingers above said table arranged to engage a blank on said member and transfer the same tosaid table, a blank turning plate pivotally mount- 1 ed at the advance end of said table, said plate lying in front of the blank when the table is advanced thereto and arranged to turn into the plane of said table as the blank passes across said plate, and yielding means connected to said plate and normally holding the same in substantially vertical position.

23. In a chain making machine, a blank supporting member, blank gripping jaws, and means for transferring a blank from said member to said jaws, said means comprising a table reciprocating between said member and jaws, movable fingers above said table arranged to engage a blank on said member and transfer the same to said table and from said table to said jaws, a blank turning plate pivotally mounted at the advance end of said table, said plate lying in front of the blank when the table is advanced thereto and arranged to turn into member and jaws, movable fingers above said table arranged to engage a blank on sald member and transfer the same to 7 said table, said fingers moving in unison withsaid table but having a greater range of movement, a blank turning plate pivotally mounted at the advance end of said table, said plate lying in front of the blank when the table is advanced thereto and arranged to turn into the plane of said table as the blank passes across said plate, and yielding means connected to said plate and normally holding the same in substantially vertical position.

25. In a chain making machine, a blank supporting member, blank gripping jaws, and means for transferring a blank from said member to said jaws, said means comprising a table reciprocating between said member and jaws, movable fingers above said table arranged to engage a blank on said member and transfer the same to said table and from said table to said jaws, said fingers moving in unison with said table but having a greater range of movement, a blank turning plate pivotally mounted at the advance end of'said table, said plate lying in front of the blank when the table is advanced thereto and arranged to turn into the plate of said table as the blank passes across said plate, and yielding means connected to said plate and normally holding the same in substantially vertical position.

26. A blank carrier for chain machines, comprising a frame rotatable about a vertical axis, means for producing step by step movement of said frame, and a series of hooks depending from said frame, said hooks having limited swinging movement about axes disposed radially to the said vertical axis. 5

of said block. 29. In a chain making machine, a block having a die cavity, a hollow die cooperating therewith, means for advancing a blank toward said block and die, and laterally -movable link closing members located in front of said block and above the bottom of the die cavity therein.

30. In a chain making machine, a block havinga die cavity, a hollow die cooperating therewith, a blank carrier, laterally movable blank closing members located in front of said block, and means for advancing said carrier to bring the blank opposite said blank closing members.

31. In a chain making machine, a bloc having a die cavity, a hollow die cooperating therewith, a blank carrier, laterally mov able blank closing members located in front of said block, and means for producing two advancing movements of said carrier, one to bring the blank opposite said blank closing members, and the second to bring it into po sition between the die and hammer.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature.

WALLACE N. APPLETON.

Gopiea of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G. 

